Vietnam Official, Gunman Killed in Land Dispute

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A land dispute in Vietnam has ended in tragedy after a gunman broke into a local government building and shot four people, killing one before turning the weapon on himself.

Authorities in northern Thai Binh City say Dang Ngoc Viet took the action after finding out his land plot was going to be confiscated for development. The man killed in the shooting was an official with the local land management agency.

A provincial official, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed the casualties in an interview with the VOA Vietnamese service. She also confirmed the suspect’s house lies in a land clearance area, and an investigation into the land dispute is being carried out.

“Everyone is talking about it as it is a serious incident. People are curious about and interested in what happened. News about the killing is inundated on the Internet," she said.

Ngo Thi Quyen, who lives near the suspect, said the whole province is shocked at the killing.

“People are mourning both the victim and the killer. It seems that the whole world knows about the incident. Rumor has it that the suspect was not satisfied with the compensation for the seizure of his land, so he killed people. There is nothing to do about it as he is dead,” she said.

Vietnam's controversial land policies have pushed tens of thousands from their homes and businesses in recent years as development has accelerated.

This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Vietnamese service.

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by: TV5

September 13, 2013 12:51 AM

The property developers in Vietnam are corrupted officials with their former VC soldier comrades. Only them have the money and get paper approval for large real estate projects, they have power and abuse their power. Poor Vietnamese peasants, farmers and workers who supported Hochiminh for revolution but nothing has changed.

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